Sign receptacle



July 30, 1929. w. F. HENDRY SIGN RECEPTACLE' Filed Jan. '7, 1927 Patented July 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,722,915 PATENT orrica.

WILLIAM F. nnnnmr, or ossmms, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR To MANHATTAN ELEC- TRIGAL SUPPLY COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION or MASSACHUSETTS.

SIGN RECEPTAOLE.

Application filed January 7, 1927. Serial No. 159,648.

This invention relates to sign receptacles and relates more particularly to receptacles or sockets for holding tube sign letters, symbols and the like. An object of this invention is to provlde a receptacle for a gas tube sign letter so con-.

structed that the receptacle can be moved by the sign letter as the latter expands or contracts due to a change in temperature.

Another object is to provide a receptacle for a gas tube sign letter so constructed that the receptacle can be moved slightly in one direction or another to allow for inaccuracies in the positioning of the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a receptacle having a support midway of its ends whereby a heavy Sign letter will be more safely held in position.

Still another object is to provide a sign letter receptacle having clamping means for holding a Sign letter securely in the receptacle.

, These and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly in the following description.

It has been found in the installation of large gas tube signs in which the letters are made up of pieces of glass or other frangible tubing from three to ten feet long that it is impracticable to use the type of receptacle employed with smaller signs having letters up to two feet high. This is'due to the fact that in a climate where the temperature in summer and winter varies widely the expansion of the tube sign in relation to the support to which it is attachedis sufiicient in some cases to break'the tube. It-

is also diflicult in such large installations to locate the receptacles accurately and furof glass blowing render it uncommercial to attempt to locate the two electrodes of. a sign letter relative to one another, within any very close degree of precision.

Large gas tube sign letters of the type heretofore mentioned are heavy and hence require a receptacle constructed to withstand heavy strains. An ordinary socket having a support at one end only has been found to be unsuitable for holding these large sign letters as with such sockets a heavy load is not properly distributed with relation to the support.

According to my invention, I provide a sign receptacle having a spring retained around its periphery.

thermore the difliculties inherent in the art.

holder for receiving a gas tiibe sign letter. The holder is supported at a point intermediate its ends and is supplied on the inceptacle having a portion cut away to show its construction.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the longitudinal axis of the receptacle.

In Fig. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates a. gaseous tube sign letter held at its two enlargcd end portions 2 by receptacles or sockets 3 and 4 which are in turn supported by base plate 14;.

In Figs. 2 and 3 reference numeral 2 indicates the enlarged end portion of a gas tube sign letter as placed inside the holder or sleeve 5 of a receptacle. The tube is held in place by means of-spring members 11 which are" in turn operatively engaged by springs 17 and secured by screws 12. In most cases the enlarged portion 2 would have on it an external electrode, or ,a contact piece for an internal electrode, hence this electrode or contact would engage members 11 which would serve as current supply terminals for the tube. The sleeve 5 has intermediate its ends three radial projections 7 evenly spaced These projections have channels cut out of them at 18 which receive coiled springs 6 and spring plugs 10. Projections 7 with springs 6 and plugs 10 are all enclosed inside housing members 8 which are secured by screws 9 to base plate 14. In the normal position the sleeve 5 is positioned in the center of an opening 15 in base plate 14 and spring plugs 10 are pressed by spring 6 against the side of the housing members 8 secured to base plate 14. By virtue of the springs 6 the sleeve 5 is held in a position concentric with hole 15, the diameter of which is somewhat larger than the diameter of sleeve 5. The hole 15 should be'enough larger; in diameter than sleeve 5 to allow for displacement of the sleeve due to expansion and contraction of tube 1 and also to allow for inaccuracies in the construction of tube 1 and in the spacing of the receptacles relative one another.

By reference to Fig. 3 it Will be seen that the enlarged portion 2 of sign letter 1 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of sleeve 5 and is frictionally held in place by the clamping action of spring members 11 and 17, which are in turn secured in place by bent over end sections of member 11, one section of which passes through an opening 18 in sleeve 5 and the other end portion of which is secured to the end of sleeve 5. The clamping action of the spring members can be regulated by adjusting the nut on screw 12, which is secured to spring members 17. As the nut is turned inwardly on the screw 12 spring member 17 will be moved relative to spring member 11 and by virtue of the humps in member 17 and the inclined surfaces of member 11, the member 11 will be forced inwardly toward the center of the sleeve 5, whereby it will press more tightly against the enlarged portion 2 of the tube 1. The operation of the device is as follows: Two receptacles are spaced apart the proper distance to receive a standard gas tube sign letter, the ends of which are to be inserted in the receptacles. With an exactly standard tube inserted in the receptacles the sleeves 5 will be centered exactly with respect to the holes 15 in the plate 14.

' However many tubes are not exactly up to standard and the distance between the eularged end portions may be slightly too great or too small. When one of these letters is inserted in the receptacles the sleeves 5 move slightly, against the action ofsprings 6, thus allowing the ends of the letter to slide into the sleeves of the receptacles. As the temperature of the atmosphere varies with a change in weather conditions the tube of the sign letter will contract or expand causing a variation in the distance between the end portions ofthe tube which are in place of receptacles. This expansion and contraction will be taken care of by the moving of the sleeves against the action of the springs 6.

The enlarged end portions of some tube sign letters may not be of exactly standard size, and if so any variation is taken care of the resiliency of spring members 11 and 1 necessary by adjustment of the nuts on screws 12. Furthermore by virtue of the adjustment secured by screws 12 it is possible first to insert a letter in its receptacles then secure it firmly in place by turning the nuts on screws 12.

As the sleeve 5 is supported at substantia ly the middle the strain on the receptacle is lessened due to the comparativel small leverage of the sign letter on the s eeve.

While I have shown for the purpose of illustration a specific embodiment. ofmy invention, I do not wish to be limited to the particular structure shown as various modifications in this structure and arrangement of parts will occur to one skilled in the art without a departure from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

' What I claim is:

1. In a holder for a tube sign letter, a base plate, two receptacles mounted parallel to each other on the base plate and means resiliently securing said two receptacles a predetermined distance apart.

2. In combination, an electric discharge tube having a plurality of end portions, positioned parallel to each other, receptacles for receiving said end portions and means for resiliently positioning said receptacles with respect to each other.

3. In a receptacle for an electric discharge tube, a sleeve, a plurality of radial projec tions on said sleeve intermediate the ends thereof, a base plate having a hole therein, said sleeve being positioned in the hole with the said projections resting against the plate, grooves in the "projections having springs therein, and housing members secured to said plate and enclosing the projections and springs, said springs pressing against the said housing members. 4. In a receptacle for an electric discharge tube, a base plate having a hole therein, a sleeve positioned concentrically within the hole and projecting through the plate, means securing the said sleeve against longitudinal movement relative to said plate and means comprising a plurality of angularly spaced coil springs for resiliently securing said sleeve against lateral movement.

5. In a receptacle for an electric discharge tube, a base plate, a sleeve, and means positively securing said sleeve against longitudinal movement relative to said plate and means comprising a plurality of angularly positioned coil springs for resiliently securing-said sleeve against lateral movement.

6. In a receptacle for an electric discharge tube, a base plate havingv a hole therein, a sleeve having a fiange'like section intermediate the ends thereof, said sleeve being positioned within the hole with the said flangelike section engaging the saidplate, housing means for covering the said flange-like section and preventing longitudinal movement of said sleeve relative the plate, and spring means cooperating with said flange-like section and said housing means for resiliently securing said sleeve against laterial move ment. J

7. A receptacle for an electric discharge tube comprising a sleeve for receiving said tube, a longitudinal groove in the inside wall of said sleeve, a strip having a plurality of humps therein positionedwithin said groove, a spring strip having a plurality of inclined surfaces, superimposed on said first menv positioned on said plate at right angles thereto, means for securing said sockets against longitudinal movement relative to the plate and supplemental means for resiliently securing said sockets against lateral displacement.

9. A receptacle for aniilluminating tube comprising a baseplate having an aperture therethrough, a sleeve positioned therein, said sleeve having secured thereto means forming a support projecting at right angles thereto, said support serving to prevent longitudinal movement of the sleeve in one direction, means cooperating with said support for preventing movement of thesleeve in the opposite direction and a plurality of springs for centering said sleeve in said aperture.

10. A receptacle for an illuminating tube, comprising a base plate having an aperture therethrough, a sleeve positioned therein, said sleeve having a flange member secured thereto intermediate its ends, said flange member resting against the base plate and being held in such position by a housing covering the said member and a coiled spring positioned adjacent to said member radially of the sleeve for positioning the sleeve in the said aperture.

11. In a receptacle for an illuminating tube, a sleeve, an elongated spring positioned within the said sleeve longitudinally thereof and adjacent to the side wall thereof, said spring having a deformed portion, a member positioned between the said spring and the sleeve, said member having an inclined portion cooperating with the deformed portion of the said spring for varying the position of the spring relative to the side wall of the sleeve.

12. In a receptacle for an illuminating tube, a sleeve,'an elongated spring positioned within the said sleeve longitudinally thereof and adjacent to the side wall thereof, said spring having a deformed portion, a member positioned between the said spring and the sleeve, said member having an inclined portion cooperating with the deformed portion of the said spring for varying the position of the spring relative to the side wall of the sleeve, and means for adjusting the position of the member longitudinally of the spring.

13. In a receptacle for an illuminating tube, a socket having an aperture therethrough, an elongated spring positioned within .the said aperture longitudinally thereof and adjacent to the side wall of the aperture, said spring having a deformed portion near each end thereof, an elongated member positioned between the spring and the side wall, said member having an inclined portion at each end thereof cooperating with the deformed portions of the spring for determining the position of the spring relative to the side wall of the tube, and means comprising a screwthread for adjusting the position of the member longitudinally of the spring.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 4th day of January 1927.

WILLIAM F. HENDRY. 

